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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Jan 19th, 2024–Jan 20th, 2024

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.

Regions

South Coast Inland, Birkenhead, Duffey, South Chilcotin, Stein, Taseko.

Watch for wind slab on all aspects as you gain elevation.

Sheltered terrain at treeline and below should hold good riding conditions.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

Operators reported small loose dry sluffing in sheltered terrain, and cracking in wind affected features. This indicates that specific wind loaded features may still hold reactive conditions.

Numerous natural wind slab avalanches were reported on Wednesday - to size 1 at treeline and above, on north and east facing terrain from the southerly winds.

If you head into the backcountry, please consider submitting a MIN report.

Snowpack Summary

Recent low-density snow continues to be redistributed by variable alpine winds. In most areas, this has buried hard wind affected and faceted snow, which, may create a weak bond with the storm snow.

The mid and lower snowpack consists of various crusts and layers of facets or surface hoar. Reports indicate these are not currently a concern, however uncertainty exists over whether rising temperatures could increase the reactivity of these buried weak layers in alpine areas where the snowpack is thin.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of snow, southwest winds 20 to 40 km/h. Treeline temperatures around -4 °C as freezing levels remain below 1500 m.

Saturday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -1 °C. Freezing levels rise to 1800 m.

Sunday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -3 °C.

Monday

Cloudy with trace snow amounts, southwest alpine winds 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperatures may reach +3 °C as freezing levels rise towards 2500 m.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • The best and safest riding will be on slopes that have soft snow without any slab properties.
  • Closely monitor how the new snow is bonding to the old surface.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.